Antecedents and Consequences of Child Externalizing Problems: Differences in Dynamic Parent–Child Processes

Given that noncompliance is the most common externalizing problem during middle childhood and reliably predicts significant conduct problems, innovations in elucidating its etiology are sorely needed. Evaluation of in-the-moment antecedents and consequences of child noncompliance improves traction on this goal, given that multiple theories contend that child noncompliance and parent behavior mutually influence each other through negative reciprocation as well as contingent praise processes. Among a sample of 140 families (child age: 6–10 years; 32.1% female), the present study capitalized on intensive repeated measures of observed child noncompliance and parent negative talk and praise objectively coded during three unique tasks. We employed dynamic structural equation modeling to evaluate within-dyad parent–child behavioral dynamics and between-dyad differences therein. Results provided mixed support for hypotheses and suggested that antecedents and consequences of child noncompliance differed according to task demands and child ADHD symptoms. Contrary to models of coercive cycles, during child-led play, parent negative talk was more likely following prior child noncompliance, but child noncompliance was less likely following prior parent negative talk. As expected, during parent-led play, parent praise was less likely following prior child noncompliance, which was also less likely following prior parent praise. Relative to youth with fewer symptoms, for children with elevated ADHD symptoms, during a challenging clean-up task, child noncompliance was less stable and less contingent on prior parent negative talk. Results are discussed in terms of their implications of real-time parent–child interactions for typical and atypical development of externalizing problems.